Legislative Update
Dear friends and neighbors,
The 2025 legislative session came to a close last on Monday night, which was our constitutional adjournment date. I have the update for you here on what we were able to get done, what is left to do, and how we plan to get it done.
Bills Passed
Last weekend, we worked around the clock to wrap up as many bills as we could, and we completed the following:
Agriculture:
Minnesota’s agriculture sector will benefit from funding to combat infectious livestock diseases and support farm stability. The bill includes critical relief for the state’s dairy industry, which has seen a 40 percent decline in farm numbers over the past seven years.
Legacy:
Reforms to Arts & Cultural Heritage (ACH) funding include new transparency measures, requiring grantees to submit IRS Form 990. The bill reduces earmarks, shifts funding to a competitive, merit-based process, and prevents spending on expensive capital construction, keeping the focus on community programs.
Public Safety and Judiciary:
The Legislature backed strong public safety measures, including mandatory minimum sentencing for sex traffickers and tougher penalties for assaulting firefighters, EMS workers, and correctional staff. Adults will now be held accountable when children are exposed to fentanyl. The bill also halts early release for inmates from Stillwater prison as part of the phased closure plan.
State Government:
Government accountability was strengthened with new oversight positions in the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Proposed budget hikes for the Attorney General and Secretary of State were reduced, trimming millions and keeping government spending in check.
Veterans:
Support for veterans was expanded through increased funding for mental health services and veterans’ homes, ensuring meaningful care for those who served.
Housing:
Lawmakers passed a housing package focused on closing Minnesota’s 100,000-unit housing gap. The bill invests in new housing construction, increases funding for affordable housing programs, and provides targeted grants for infrastructure in underserved areas. It also continues to support programs that guide Minnesotans through every stage of homeownership, helping more families find and keep stable housing.
Human Services Policy:
The human services bill improves access to behavioral health and substance abuse care, streamlines licensing for providers, and enhances coordination through new oversight structures. Policy updates around civil commitments and data privacy ensure better service delivery while protecting individual rights.
While we did make good progress in the final days, I am disappointed that we did not complete everything. We will have to reconvene for a short special session in the coming days, likely next week, to pass the rest of our bills. It was a challenging session, especially since the Democrat's 23-day boycott slowed us down and is forcing us into this special session. I was committed to getting the work done from day one, and I remain committed to getting the work done for as long as this special session will take. It is my duty to deliver on the promises that we made to Minnesotans, to make it a more affordable and safe place to live. I look forward to filling in further details as we have them.
 Habitat for Humanity
I had the chance to attend and speak at a Habitat for Humanity event in Faribault this week. The event was hosted in a home that was built by local South Central students, showcasing the excellent partnership between organizations like this one and nearby schools! Thank you to the hard work of these students and Habitat for Humanity for making the event possible and giving back to our community!
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